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Talise is growing quickly!  This past week she has reached the milestone of learning to swim in one of our pools!  

The past five weeks have been full of nursing, growing and exploring for our little Talise. At birth, sea lion pups do not know how to swim. In the wild they learn to explore the water on sandy beaches with slopes allowing them easy access and exit opportunities. Our deep pool is not so simple to climb out of, so over the past two weeks, our trainers have been teaching Talise how to swim and exit the pool comfortably - it truly is a learning process! We first introduced Talise to a small baby pool where she explored shallow waters and learned how to hold her breath. Once she was comfortable in the baby pool, we began doing swim lessons in our 6-foot deep holding pool. Here, she is working on mastering the art of maneuvering through the water while holding her breathe for longer periods of time building comfort in her aquatic environment. During these lessons, it has become quite clear just how much Talise loves the water! Her trust in our trainers has also become very apparent, as she prefers us in the water with her at all times. In working with her everyday our goal is to help build her strength and confidence in the water! In no time, Talise will be frolicking in our 18-foot deep pool with the other seals and sea lions!

Just as the past 5 weeks have been full of new experiences for Talise, they have also been full of learning experiences for her mother Sonoma and the staff and trainers at Oceans of Fun. In the wild, it is not uncommon for first time mothers to be uncertain of how to care for their youngster; Sonoma was no exception. Learning proper mothering skills has not come naturally to Sonoma and trainers have had to step in to assist and help Sonoma develop nurturing skills. Our goals have not only included ensuring Talise's health, but also building Sonoma's skill set for success with future pups. It's an ongoing challenge but both Sonoma and Talise are getting the hang of it! Even Auntie Makaia has played a part in nurturing and caring for Talise, nursing the little pup in times of need! 24-hour care is all part of the responsibility we take so seriously in caring for these animals. As Talise grows stronger each day, we all smile knowing the role we are playing in her success!